Longwood students to visit Uganda for winter break mission trip

Eight Longwood students and one staff member will be spending part of winter break in Uganda giving their time and attention to some of the 2,000 plus street children who live in the capital city of Kampala. The Longwood team, along with several students from Virginia Tech and colleges in Tennessee and Georgia, will be in Africa from Dec. 28 through Jan. 14.

The mission team is working through Abaana, a charity organization for the children of Africa. Founded in January 1998, Abaana's goal is not only to help children in Africa, but also to challenge the way of life in the region. Abaana is a Ugandan word for children.

While in Kampala, the mission team will provide healthy meals for the children on the streets and spend time working with boys in New Life Homes, an orphanage/group home. In addition, they will distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, protein bars, athletic shoes, children's books, movies and more.

"Members of the Longwood and Farmville communities have been very generous with donations," said Angela Jackson, Longwood's director of residential and commuter programming and a member of the mission team. "A corner of my office is full of items that our community is sending for the children of Kampala. We are grateful for these donations."